First Team News

Ryan stays home and steps up

Ryan McGivern

Ryan McGivern missed out on a loan move this week but the highly-rated young Blues defender is looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the City stars when his international duty is over.

Full-back Ryan, who has signed a new three-year deal at the City of Manchester Stadium, was a target for Hartlepool but is needed by Mark Hughes for the Premier League run-in in case Wayne Bridge is ruled out by injury.

The 19-year-old, who is currently with the Northern Ireland squad, admitted: "I am a little bit disappointed as I would be getting first team games.

"But the good thing is that the manager wants to keep me involved and training with the first-team squad. I will try and make the most of it.

"You can only learn from people like Robinho and Stephen Ireland, who has been our best player this season. Robinho is exactly the same in training as he is on the pitch - full of tricks. He has the quickest feet I've ever seen."

Hughes said: "Ryan is progressing really well and I'm delighted we've signed him. The initial idea was that he would go on loan before the end of the season or we'd possibly get him out there next year.

"But it's better now to keep him closer to the first-team squad until the end of the season and see how he does. There may be more of an opportunity for him than he thinks, because he's a promising player who's doing really well. Next year we'll be looking to get him a decent loan period with a good club, but for now we'll keep him close."

Hughes allowed goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen to join Wrexham until the end of the season but turned down several other loan proposals despite the imminent return to full fitness of some of the Blues' walking wounded.

The manager explained: "You cannot anticipate what might happen, and there's no way I'm going to leave us exposed if I don't have to. Players might get a little frustrated - young players always want to play football - but they are still developing by being around good players at senior level."

Mark Hughes is gearing up for a grand finale to his first City campaign and has promised patient Blues supporters: "I'll work all the hours that God sends to bring success to your club."

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Gunnar Nielsen, the Blues' newest goalkeeping recruit, has joined Blue Square Premier League club Wrexham on loan for the rest of the season with the aim of getting regular football under his belt in Wales.

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Mark Hughes has saluted Micah Richards' return to form but warned the gifted young Blues defender that he must work even harder to embrace the long-term England career that many believe to be his destiny.